The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces says it will soon establish a court martial to try the soldier who shot dead four construction workers in Gogrial West County, Warrap State, at the weekend.
On Saturday, Private Yak Garang Yak, 40-year old SSPDF soldier under Tiger Division killed the four people at Ngap Aker in Akon town over pay dispute.
Among the deceased are three foreigners – one Syrian and two Lebanese – and a young South Sudanese boy.
“The Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Santino Deng Wol, has already initiated paper work and formation of emergency general court martial so that the suspect is tried and convicted here in accordance with our national laws,” SSPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai said on Tuesday.
After killing the workers, Yak fled in a vehicle. He was later captured in Aweil East county, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and handed over to the SSPDF Division III.
He is currently in detention Division 3 in Wunyik, awaiting transfer to Juba for arraignment.
On Monday, the SSPDF Division III Commander, Maj.-Gen Akuei Ajou Akuei told Mayardit FM in Turalei that the suspect was a driver for the construction company.
“Yak said he was fired from duty but the company did not pay him, and that was the cause of disagreement with the Syrian company,” Ajou told Mayardit.
It is yet unclear why an active soldier worked as a driver for the private construction company.
